Congress-NCP being vengeful towards voters for its defeat: BJP leader

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and spokesperson Madhav Bhandari has alleged that the state government and NCP and Congress leaders are being vengeful towards those who voted against them and are disconnecting their water and electricity supply.

Addressing media persons on Saturday, Bhandari said after the ruling alliance faced a massive defeat in the just concluded general elections, the parties' leaders were acting with an objective of revenging their defeat by troubling people in certain areas.

Citing three examples, Bhandari pointed out the threat issued by deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar of stopping water supply to a particular region in Baramati if they voted against the NCP candidate. Bhandari said, "There is no water supply for people living in the Shahupuri area in Satara. This place has voted against the NCP candidate. Similarly, in Tasgaon, Sangli district, Mahavitaran has discontinued power supply to three regional water supply schemes after the region voted heavily in favour of the BJP candidate. As many as 1,73,000 people are beneficiaries of the water supply scheme, but they (authorities) cited non-payment of dues for disconnecting supply."

"Even in the Vasai-Virar region, especially in areas dominated by Gujaratis, water supply has been cut as people in these areas voted for the BJP candidate. Pipeline work has been given as the reason, but we believe that's just a pretext and they are behaving in a vengeful manner without thinking that they will have to go before the people in the next four months for the assembly elections," he added.

Bhandari said the party will carry out agitation at the local level in all these areas against the harassment.

When asked about the opposition and criticism to the invitation extended to Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif for Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony, Bhandari took an indirect dig at Shiv Sena and said these were the same people who invited Pakistan cricketer Javed Miandad to their home. He also said people of the country have elected Modi and they should leave it to his wisdom to decide on foreign policy matters.